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He named former Republican state Sen. David Brinkley as his budget secretary. Brinkley spent 10 years on the Budget and Taxation Committee, and he will temporarily share the responsibility with transition team budget guru Bobby Neall.

Brinkley will arguably hold the most important position in the Hogan administration. The budget will be a road map to how the governor-elect will handle his priorities, details he's still holding close to his vest.

"Twenty-four hours after being sworn in, I will lay out budget details," Hogan said.

In his capacity on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, Brinkley could only try to tweak what was given to lawmakers.

"The big issue today is borrowing and spending," Brinkley said.

Current Gov. Martin O'Malley cut $206 million in the fiscal year 2015 budget and laid the groundwork for cutting millions more during this General Assembly session. Those cuts help, because it closes the deficit in next year's plan.

Democratic State House presiding officers said they believe Hogan could cut $135 million out of a fund related to education. The Geographic Cost Index is money sent to jurisdictions where the cost of education is high. It levels the playing field.

Another cost savings idea floating in Annapolis is to put a moratorium on capital projects. Paying down debt used to come from property tax revenues alone. Now, the state has to dip into the General Fund to pay those bills.

Hogan also named 22 people who will be part of his administration, including Sam Maholtra as secretary of Human Resources, Jennie Hunter-Cevera as acting secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Clay Stamp as director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Luis Borunda as deputy secretary of state.